Yell 911 now EMD certifiedAccording to the Yell County Sheriff Bill Gilkey, ambulances have begun being dispatched from Yell Co. 911 on Monday through the recently installed computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system. Gilkey said all 911 operators have now successfully completed training on Emergency Medical Dispatch and are now EMD certified. Officials hope this will increase efficiency and expedite response time for the citizens of Yell County as the agencies work together...

Obituary: Ernestine JacksonErnestine L. Jackson was born June 14, 1925, in Blackwell, Ark., to Clarence Elbert and Gabrilla Hensley Downs. A long time resident of Russellville, Ark., and the widow of Jewell B. Jackson Sr., she passed away on July 18, 2016, in Kindred Hospital South Bay in Gardena, Calif. Ms. Jackson worked as a beautician and an educator in the Russellville area (Conway and Pope Counties). She started out in conjunction with her sister-in-law at the Bet...

Obituary: Bill LathamBill Latham, age 76, of Russellville, died Monday, Aug. 1, 2016, at his home. He was born Dec. 26, 1939, in Russellville, to Andrew Jackson and Annie Mae Bone Latham. He was a member of Harmony Free Will Baptist Church where he was also a deacon. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by Grady Latham, Gladys Latham Allen and George R. Latham. Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Cleta Craig Latham; a daughter and son-in-law, B...

Obituary: Linda SandersLinda Sanders, 75, of Russellville died Sunday, July 31, 2016, at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Little Rock. She was born on Aug. 18, 1940, to Hansel and Leah Bowne Mercer in Indianapolis, Ind. Linda was a member of First Baptist Church in Russellville since 1998. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Louis Sanders; and an infant sister, Carol Mercer. Survivors include her children, Michele and Henry Brattain of Corona, Calif., Mi...

Americans across board see divisionNEW YORK -- Neither Hillary Clinton nor Donald Trump is seen as likely to unify the U.S. if elected, but pessimism about the Republican candidate is far greater, according to a poll released Monday that reflects deep division in the country. The survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found 73 percent of Americans believe Trump will further divide the country, compared with 43 percent saying that about Clinton....

Early voting on Aquatic Center kicks off todayDANVILLE -- Early voting will begin at 8 a.m. today for a proposed $1.5 million aquatic center for the city. Registered voters in the city limits will vote on the proposal Aug. 9. Mayor Phil Moudy said early voting will take place at the Arkwest Boston Plaza where the former State Revenue Office was located. Residents can vote from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. today, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Voting on special election day will be at the First Bapti...

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BY SEAN INGRAM
sean@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Officials: 1 dead, 3 hurt in shootingAUSTIN, Texas -- A shooting in a crowded entertainment district in downtown Austin early Sunday caused a chaotic scene, leaving one woman dead and three others wounded and police searching for a suspect. Austin police say they want to question a 24-year-old possibly armed man in the overnight shootings. Police are circulating a photograph of a man described in a statement as a "person of interest." Austin Police Chief of Staff Brian Manley say...

President: More work to do for veteransATLANTA -- President Barack Obama said Monday that the U.S. has made serious strides in improving services for military veterans, but work remains to overcome shortcomings in the delivery of health care, housing and mental health services. He called the nation's commitment to its veterans a "sacred covenant." "I don't use those words lightly. It's sacred because there is no more solemn request than to ask someone to risk their life, to be read...

U.S. airstrikes targeting IS militants in LibyaWASHINGTON -- The United States launched multiple airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Libya on Monday, opening a new, more persistent front against the group at the request of the United Nations-backed government, Libyan and U.S. officials said. Fayez Serraj, the head of Libya's U.N.-brokered presidency council, said in a televised statement that American warplanes attacked the IS bastion of Sirte on the Mediterranean in northern Lib...

Civil rights groups fighting newsprint ban in state prisonsLITTLE ROCK -- A new policy banning newsprint clippings mailed to inmates is drawing criticism from civil rights groups who say the measure could infringe on the prisoners' First Amendment rights to receive published materials. Arkansas Department of Correction officials say the policy is needed to stem the flow of drugs in state prisons. Correction officials cited the difficulty in determining whether newsprint items are laced with drugs, suc...

Little Rock hosts mobile Guatemalan consulateLITTLE ROCK -- A mobile consulate has been set up in Little Rock to help Guatemalans in the state process documents to obtain passports and IDs and avoid a trip to the nearest consulate in Houston. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that the consulate was set up over the weekend in the Southwest Community Center. Jose Barillas Trennert, the Guatemalan consul general in Houston, said about 750 people were served during the consulate's first ...

FBI: 'Flip-flop bandit' linked to robberies in four statesLITTLE ROCK -- The FBI is seeking the public's help in identifying a serial bank robber whom investigators have dubbed the "flip-flop bandit." The FBI says the same man is linked to bank robberies this summer in Bryant and Morrilton in Arkansas and in Yukon, Oklahoma. In a flier , the FBI said the man is also suspected in three bank robberies in North Carolina and one in Knoxville, Tennessee. The suspect is described as a white, heavyset man, ...

1 fatally shot at Little Rock gas station; clerk questionedLITTLE ROCK — Authorities have arrested a store employee in connection with a fatal shooting outside a west Little Rock gas station. Little Rock police say the shooting happened at about 4 a.m. Monday at an EZ Mart on Mara Lynn Road. Police said that 20-year-old Jarvis Garner was found shot to death near the gas pumps outside the convenience store. Police said employee Nicholas Beasley confronted Garner in the parking lot and had asked to him ...

Little Rock experiencing longer emergency call wait timesLITTLE ROCK — Little Rock's Communication Department says a staffing shortage and an increase in call volume have led to longer emergency and nonemergency call wait times. The department is authorized to have 56 call takers, but currently has 18 vacancies. Call takers collect information on reported incidents, categorize the nature of a call and then pass it along to a dispatcher, who sends the appropriate responders to the scene. City communi...

Obituary: Eva DupreeEva Dupree DARDANELLE — Eva Vernell Dupree, age 69, of Dardanelle died Sunday, July 31, 2016, at Arkansas Hospice River Valley Home. She was born July 7, 1947, at Lucedale, Miss., to the late Bertha Ellen Dixon. She was a member of the Apostolic Lighthouse Church in Dardanelle, she loved reading her Bible and volunteering anytime she could at church and most of all she loved taking care of her grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her mo...

Obituary: Linda SandersLinda Sanders Linda Sanders, 75, of Russellville died Sunday, July 31, 2016, at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Little Rock. The funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 5, 2016, at the Shinn Chapel under the direction of Shinn Funeral Service of Russellville. The family will receive friends from 5-6 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. The full obituary will run in a future edition of The Courier and online at www.shinnfuneral.com

Obituary: Harold RiedelHarold Riedel Harold Merlyn Riedel, 86, of Russellville, Ark., passed away Sunday, July 31, 2016, at Arkansas River Valley Hospice Home. He was born Jan. 13, 1930, in Brainerd, Minn., to George Herbert Riedel and Birdie Dimple Greeley. He was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Dorothy Satter, Pearl Reyer and Loretta Richmond; his first wife, Jean Riedel; and second wife, Emilie Riedel. He is survived by his son, Harold E. Riedel ...

Obituary: Roger Waldo Sr.Roger Waldo Sr. Roger Warren Waldo Sr., born Oct. 18, 1954, in Russellville, age 61, went to his heavenly home, July 30, at UAMS in Little Rock. Roger was preceded in death by his parents, Warren and Janice Waldo; and his son, Roger Waldo Jr. Survivors include his wife of 44 years, Shirley; and two beloved granddaughters who affectionately called him Bumpaw, Kaitlyn and Karah Waldo. A graveside service for family and friends will be at 10 a.m....